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Biomedical subjects

M Levy

Publications and source records attributed to M Levy.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources

Effect of a selective octapeptide analogue of somatostatin on renal water excretion in the dog.

Somatostatin produces a modest water diuresis in dogs by inhibiting the renal tubular action of ADH. SMS 201-995, an octapeptide analogue of somatostatin, is more potent and longer-acting than the native hormone, and possesses greater specificity in the inhibition of growth hormone secretion. In the present study we tested the ability of the analogue to produce urinary dilution following infusion (0.12 to 0.50 micrograms/min) into the left renal artery. Infusion in this dose range increased urine flow from 0.20 to 0.55 mL/min (P less than 0.05) and caused a 49% to 56% reduction in urine osmolarity. We conclude that SMS 201-995 is effective in causing a water diuresis in dogs and at smaller doses than required for the native hormone.

Animals↗

Hereditary sensory neuropathy with macular dystrophy.

This is the first published report of a kindred with HSN in which the propositus and one other member had bilateral macular degeneration, and a third member progressive visual loss, presumably due to similar lesions. This association may represent variable expressivity of a single gene and/or it may be a unique genetic syndrome warranting a separate classification within the HSN group. We also report that the peripheral neuropathy symptomatically benefited from prednisone.

Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies↗

Renal response to hemorrhage in dogs with subacute biliary obstruction.

In the present study, we tested the hemodynamic and renal response of 15 sham-operated dogs and 15 dogs with subacute (5-9 days) biliary obstruction to either acute or more chronic hemorrhage. All studies were conducted on sedated but unanaesthetized animals. Both groups were comparable before blood withdrawal with respect to central hemodynamics and renal perfusion. Serum bilirubin was 0.70 +/- 0.09 mg/dL for control dogs and 8.25 +/- 0.14 for experimental dogs (P less than 0.05). In the acute protocol, nine control and seven jaundiced dogs were bled over a period of 30-40 min to lower blood pressure by 19.1 and 19.5%, respectively. Blood volumes required to achieve this drop were 21.3 and 20.05 mL/kg, respectively (P greater than 0.05). Cardiac output declined by an equivalent value for each group and glomerular filtration rate and clearance of p-aminohippurate remained unchanged from control values. In six control and eight experimental dogs, 500 mL of blood was withdrawn over 5 days. Although blood pressure and cardiac output declined for each group by an equivalent amount, renal perfusion remained unchanged for each group from control values. We conclude that acute or chronic hemorrhage of modest degree does not predispose to acute renal insufficiency in dogs with subacute biliary obstruction.

Acute Disease↗

Echocardiographic abnormalities following cardiac radiation.

Five years or more after receiving cardiac radiation, 41 patients with Hodgkin's disease and seminoma in remission were subjected to echocardiography. The abnormalities detected included pericardial thickening in 70%, thickening of the aortic and/or mitral valves in 28%, right ventricular dilatation or hypokinesis in 39%, and left ventricular dysfunction in 39%. In the 23 patients treated by an upper mantle technique with shielding, the incidence of right ventricular abnormalities and valvular thickening was significantly lower than in patients treated with modified techniques. Although no symptoms were attributable to the observed abnormalities, longer follow-up time may reveal important functional implications.

Adult↗

The nephropathy associated with male pseudohermaphroditism and Wilms' tumor (Drash syndrome): a distinctive glomerular lesion--report of 10 cases.

We report on 10 children, less than 2 years of age, who presented with a genuine type of glomerulopathy: diffuse mesangial sclerosis. In 5, the nephropathy was associated with male pseudohermaphroditism (MPH) and Wilms' tumor (WT); in 3 with MPH and in 2 with WT. The nephropathy was characterized by its very early onset, between the age of 2 weeks and 18 months. Eight patients presented with a nephrotic syndrome with (7 cases) or without (1 case) hypertension. All, but one, who is in advanced RF at 11 years of age, progressed to chronic or end-stage renal failure (ESRF) within a few months to 2 years from the onset. One additional child presented with advanced renal failure at the age of 8 months and the last one, who was hypertensive, developed an anuria related to thrombosis of renal veins at 1 year of age. Drash syndrome is characterized by the association of a "nephron disorder" with MPH and WT. We propose, on the basis of our histological findings, to extend the concept of Drash syndrome to patients who, in addition to the nephropathy, have either WT or MPH and to consider the distinctive glomerular lesions presented by all these patients as their common denominator. The pathogenesis of this glomerulopathy is obscure. Its early onset, its association with a dysembryoplastic tumor and/or with gonadal dysgenesis both suggest an antenatal dysgenetic process.

Disorders of Sex Development↗

Experience with the endorectal pull-through and S pouch for ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis in adults.

An experience is reported with 23 patients who underwent rectal mucosectomy, total colectomy, creation of S-type pouch, and ileoanal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis (21 patients) or familial polyposis (two patients). There were no deaths. There were 23 complications requiring 18 operations in 16 patients. Twenty-one patients have been followed an average of 17.8 months (range 2 to 34 months) Frequency of bowel movement averaged 9.8 per day initially and 6.2 per day at the time of follow-up. None of the patients consider themselves incontinent, although 15 have had some degree of perianal soiling and at least on occasion have worn a pad. One patient intubates the pouch regularly, six intubate it on occasion, and 14 do not intubate at all. The size of the outflow treat of the pouch has been shortened from 5 to 2 cm in the last seven patients; six of these patients do not intubate and four report no soiling at all. Eleven patients have made changes in their diet or eating habits to promote more predictable bowel function and 13 take a variety of antidiarrheal medications. Nineteen patients are satisfied with the procedure and prefer the pouch to a conventional ileostomy; the other two have since undergone conversion to a Brooke ileostomy. Despite frequent bowel movements, complications, and some problems with perianal soiling, patient acceptance remains high with the endorectal pull-through and S pouch in adults, and further study, particularly using a shortened outflow tract, appears warranted.

Adult↗

Paracetamol overdosage in Jerusalem.

Forty-nine subjects were identified in the years 1978-83 in four major hospitals in Jerusalem as suspected of paracetamol overdosage. The apparent yearly incidence of paracetamol overdosage in the Jewish population in Jerusalem increased from 0.6/100,000 in 1978 to 4.5/100,000 in 1983. Two subgroups were identified: 13 children, the majority aged 2 to 4 years; and 36 young adults less than 39 years old, mostly in the 18- to 21-year age-group. In children, overdosage was caused by accident, in adults by attempted suicide. Morbidity was minimal, and transient liver function disturbances were found in only two subjects. Toxic levels were found in 2 of the 20 cases tested for paracetamol plasma concentration. Nevertheless, 31 subjects (63%) were hospitalized, and 29 of these were treated with N-acetylcysteine. The availability of the plasma paracetamol assay for diagnosis and of N-acetylcysteine as a specific antidote makes it possible to deal more effectively with the problem of paracetamol overdosage as a community health hazard.

Acetaminophen↗

Bioavailability of phenytoin: comparison between three preparations.

Crossover studies, following single oral doses given to 19 healthy volunteers were conducted to compare the bioavailability of three phenytoin preparations: DANTOIN and IDANTOIN (Teva, Israel) and EPANUTIN (Parke-Davis, USA). The first has recently replaced the second as the only preparation available in Israel for alleged better bioavailability. The area under the serum concentration time curve (AUCo----48), however, did not significantly differ between preparations, indicating equivalent absorption of the three preparations. These results suggest that no overall adjustments are required when switching from one preparation to another.

Adult↗

Canine Rocky Mountain spotted fever: a kennel epizootic.

Within a period of 5 consecutive days after the initial observation of illness was made, 7 of 12 Siberian Husky dogs developed clinical signs of Rickettsia rickettsii infection. One dog died and was necropsied. Clinical signs of infection consisted of lethargy, anorexia, ocular and nasal discharges, and neurologic disorder (incoordination and rolling). Scleral blood vessel injection, fever, lymphadenomegaly, splenomegaly, and increased bronchovesicular lung sounds were prominent findings. Clinical laboratory test results identified decreased platelet numbers, variable neutrophil counts, increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and bilirubinuria. Diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was confirmed by serologic evaluation of acute and convalescent sera, using the micro-immunofluorescence technique, and R rickettsii antigen was determined by demonstration of intracellular rickettsial organisms in vascular endothelial cells of brain and lung (stained with carbol-basic fuchsin and aqueous malachite green) and by demonstration of spotted fever-group rickettsiae in tissues by direct fluorescent antibody technique. Near-simultaneous naturally occurring tick-borne infection of 7 dogs with R rickettsii documents an unreported occurrence.

Animals↗

General practice audit of asthma in childhood.

It has been suggested that asthma is underdiagnosed in children. We studied the records of 52 children with asthma in our group practice. Although asthma had been positively diagnosed in roughly 10% of the children aged 18 months to 11 years, to make the diagnosis required an average of 16 to 20 consultations for respiratory problems. According to the symptoms recorded before the diagnosis was made, only three quarters of the children had presented with wheeze and roughly a third had had difficulty in sleeping. We think that the doctor's time would be better spent teaching patients about their asthma than by repeatedly treating non-existent respiratory infection.

Asthma↗

Intraocular-lens-endothelial interface: adhesive force measurements.

An instrument for measuring the force of adhesion between intraocular lens materials and the endothelium of excised rabbit corneas was constructed. The adhesion force was measured for polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (PHEMA), Duragel (amino-polyamide hydrogel), PMMA surface grafted with polyvinylpyrrolidone, and PMMA surface treated with sodium hyaluronate (Healon). The force of adhesion was reduced considerably when the PMMA surface was modified with a hydrophilic polymer coating. This is consistent with previous studies showing reduced endothelium cell damage for hydrophilic polymer coated intraocular lenses. Adhesive forces were also decreased by addition of polyvinyl alcohol or gelatin to the saline solution in which the corneas were immersed. Extension of this type of measurement to pericardium, vascular endothelium, and peritoneum surfaces may also be important to understand tissue damage problems in general surgery.

Animals↗

Plasma kinetics of dipyrone metabolites in rapid and slow acetylators.

The pharmacokinetics of the dipyrone metabolites 4-methylaminoantipyrine (MAA), 4-aminoantipyrine (AA), 4-formylaminoantipyrine (FAA) and 4-acetylaminoantipyrine (AAA) were evaluated following the administration of a single oral 1.0 g dose of dipyrone to 23 healthy volunteers. Twelve were slow and 11 were rapid acetylators as previously determined by dapsone phenotyping. For MAA and FAA the mean peak plasma concentrations were 10.5 +/- 2.8 micrograms/ml and 2.1 +/- 0.8 micrograms/ml and the half-lives were 3.3 +/- 1.0 and 10.1 +/- 1.8 h, respectively. No significant difference was found between rapid and slow acetylators in MAA and FAA kinetics. For AA, the mean peak plasma concentrations were 2.7 +/- 0.6 and 1.6 +/- 0.7 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.01), the peak times 6.7 +/- 2.1 and 3.1 +/- 1.1 h (p less than 0.01) and the half-lives were 5.5 +/- 1.0 and 3.8 +/- 1.2 h in slow and rapid acetylators, respectively. For AAA, the mean peak plasma concentrations were 1.6 +/- 0.4 and 4.4 +/- 1.1 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.01) and the peak time 16.1 +/- 5.1 and 10.0 +/- 2.6 h (p less than 0.01) in slow and rapid acetylators, respectively. There was no difference in the elimination half-life between the two groups (10.6 +/- 2.2 h). Thus, it has been demonstrated that the AAA/AA ratio is an indicator of the acetylation phenotype, as it is closely correlated with that determined by dapsone (r = 0.895, p less than 0.0005).

Acetylation↗